Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Wars of the Roses: Earl of Oxford's Billmen and Martin Schwartz' German Crossbow Troops

Earl of Oxford's Billmen advancing

Latest Troops off the Table: From
Perry's plastic European Mercenaries, I painted these based on the livery
of John De Vere, Earl of Oxford, and ally of Henry Tudor.
Oxford rallied to the Tudor banner, having fought against both Edward and
Richard previously during the Wars of the Roses.

The movement tray is simply cardboard covered in sand and flocked. I added
washers for weight and to give the magnets on the bases
something on which to cling

At Bosworth, he held Henry's left flank
against Norfolk, and was appointed Lord Admiral and Captain of the Yeoman of
the Guard upon Henry's taking the crown. (He also dabbled in privateering
during his exile in the 1470's). Oxford was probably one of Henry's most
trusted lords, commanding the van at Stoke during the Lambert Simnal affair and
again leading troops against the pretender Perkin Warbeck at Blackheath.

Several
of the billmen wear the Oxford livery and star badge, also depicted on one of
the two flags. The smaller pennant is Devere's personal banner, with the
blue boar and stars. I painted both of these on linen for the
flags. Not as detailed as decals, but I like the fabric texture it gives
to the banners.

I
also include a movement tray of German Crossbow companies under an Imperial
banner. Over 1,500 Germans, 2,000 Swiss and 5,000 Irish Kerns fought
under the German mercenary, Martin Schwartz at the battle of Stoke.
Schwartz was probably recruited by Margaret of Anjou (as she recognized Perkin
Warbeck as the heir, Edward). Schwartz joined John De La Poole, The Earl
of Lincoln in the Warbeck conspiracy. So I need to repaint my Burgundian
handgunners as Swiss, must purchase some Irish Kerns and repaint my other
Burgundian infantry in the livery of Stafford (who accompanied Oxford to crush
Lincoln and Schwartz at Stoke.

The
pavises are painted from actual German pavises I found online...but I am not
sure of the actual units or cities, except the white/red and what appears to be
a cedar (Augsburg). I thought this was appropriate since Schwartz was
born in in Augsburg, however what companies were actually at Stoke is up for debate.
I am not aware of any extant contracts or rolls that record that information.

The
movement trays are just cardboard with magnet sheets covered with sand,
pebbles, etc. The pennant is an Imperial German pennant. Again,
conjecture, but Schwartz' last gig before the Warbeck Conspiracy was
putting down rebellions in the former Burgundian holdings (as the long
arm of the Holy Roman Empire), which is probably how he came to the
attention of Margaret of Anjou. It would make for a good story!

German Command: The horn on the Herald is a paperclip with millput to make
the bell. I used an arm from a Wargames Factory Saxon to hold it
(with a bit of pinning and a resculpt at the shoulder joint).
The flags are glued linen and are typical of Imperial units...
not sure if they would have carried them to England..